The Markets (as of market close October 28, 2022)

Wall Street continued its weekly rally last week, with each of the benchmark indexes posting solid gains. Traders focused on positive earnings reports from major megacap technology and communication companies rather than the latest data that showed inflation continuing to rise, opening the door for more interest-rate hikes from the Federal Reserve. Solid corporate earnings in the third quarter may be evidence that the economy can withstand the battle against inflation. However, a slowdown in manufacturing and the housing market could be an indication that the rate increases are impacting at least some parts of the economy. Nevertheless, stocks rallied for the second consecutive week, making it look likely that October will be a strong month.

Stocks surged last Friday to end a turbulent week with gains. Favorable earnings reports from major technology and communications companies helped drive shares higher. The Nasdaq rose 2.9%, followed by the Dow (2.6%), the S&P 500 (2.5%), the Russell 2000 (2.3%), and the Global Dow (0.8%). Ten-year Treasury yields added 7.3 basis points to close the week at 4.01%. Crude oil prices slid lower to $88.24 per barrel. The dollar climbed higher for the second straight session, while gold prices declined.

Eye on the Week Ahead

The Federal Open Market Committee meets this week, the result of which is expected to produce another 75-basis-point interest rate increase. The employment figures for October are also out at the end of this week. The labor sector has been relatively strong throughout the year, most recently adding 263,000 new jobs in September, while average hourly earnings have risen 5.0% since September 2021.

Data sources: Economic: Based on data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (unemployment, inflation); U.S. Department of Commerce (GDP, corporate profits, retail sales, housing); S&P/Case-Shiller 20-City Composite Index (home prices); Institute for Supply Management (manufacturing/services). Performance: Based on data reported in WSJ Market Data Center (indexes); U.S. Treasury (Treasury yields); U.S. Energy Information Administration/Bloomberg.com Market Data (oil spot price, WTI, Cushing, OK); www.goldprice.org (spot gold/silver); Oanda/FX Street (currency exchange rates). News items are based on reports from multiple commonly available international news sources (i.e., wire services) and are independently verified when necessary with secondary sources such as government agencies, corporate press releases, or trade organizations. All information is based on sources deemed reliable, but no warranty or guarantee is made as to its accuracy or completeness. Neither the information nor any opinion expressed herein constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any securities, and should not be relied on as financial advice. Forecasts are based on current conditions, subject to change, and may not come to pass. U.S. Treasury securities are guaranteed by the federal government as to the timely payment of principal and interest. The principal value of Treasury securities and other bonds fluctuates with market conditions. Bonds are subject to inflation, interest-rate, and credit risks. As interest rates rise, bond prices typically fall. A bond sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, and there can be no guarantee that any investing strategy will be successful.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is a price-weighted index composed of 30 widely traded blue-chip U.S. common stocks. The S&P 500 is a market-cap weighted index composed of the common stocks of 500 largest, publicly traded companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. The NASDAQ Composite Index is a market-value weighted index of all common stocks listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange. The Russell 2000 is a market-cap weighted index composed of 2,000 U.S. small-cap common stocks. The Global Dow is an equally weighted index of 150 widely traded blue-chip common stocks worldwide. The U.S. Dollar Index is a geometrically weighted index of the value of the U.S. dollar relative to six foreign currencies. Market indexes listed are unmanaged and are not available for direct investment.